Ikea Hack: Time-Lapse Panning Tripod from Kitchen Timer

This photographic Ikea Hack is notable both for its simplicity and for the stunning results it produces. And it only gets better when you find out that it can be done for less than $5.

The hack uses Ikea kitchen timers to make timelapse panning stands. All you need to do is drill a hole in the top of the timer, add a bushing and screw a tripod-mount-sized machine screw into the top. Congratulations: You’re done.

This refined mod was carried out by hacker Getawaymoments , and is detailed on his blog with — of course — some great photos. To use it, just screw the camera onto the top, set the timer and hit the time-lapse function of the camera. If you’re good, you’ll get results like this:

Told you it was good. There are actually two versions of Getawaymoments’s hack. One uses the $2 plastic Stam timer, and the other (pictured) uses the still-cheap Ordning timer, a sturdier metal unit for $6. Either should be fine, but if you own a camera and find yourself at Ikea in the near future, the Stam is so cheap you can’t afford not to try it.